Petition to Rename Nashville Airport After Dolly Parton Reaches Over 100,000 Signatures Following Her Death

A Change.org petition to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton has surpassed 100,000 signatures.

Tennessee residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion started the campaign on January 21, 2025, "to honor an icon who has given so much to our state and to the world."

It gained momentum after Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death.

The organizers also described how the petition had continued to gain traction.

"Since her passing, tens of thousands of additional supporters have visited and signed this petition. The outpouring of support has reinvigorated our mission," Popovich and Dion said on the petition.

"Dolly deserves to be remembered and celebrated. What a wonderful way to share her light and magic across Tennessee and the world," the petition added.

The proposed name would be Dolly Parton International Airport.

Sheryl Crow voiced her support for the campaign during an interview with Katie Couric that was published on Change.org’s official Instagram account on August 26.

"People are talking about trying to get the Nashville airport, which I think is called BNA — I don’t even know what it stands for — to change to the Dolly Parton airport. Which I’m like, 'Yes! I think we should,'" Crow said.

Crow and Parton previously worked together on Parton’s 2023 song "You’re No Good," alongside Emmylou Harris.

The proposal also received backing from a Republican Tennessee State Representative Todd Warner.

"Yes, I will definitely introduce legislation to rename the BNA airport Dolly Parton International Airport!" Warner wrote in the petition’s comments.

In an interview with People, Warner previously filed legislation seeking to rename the Nashville airport after President Donald Trump.

After that effort failed in committee, he said, "Dolly was so good to this state. She cared about people."

"What she has done for this state economically, what she’s done for country music— and she cared about children … Just a great person. We need more Dollys in the world," Warner added.

Warner also weighed in on what renaming the airport could mean for the state.

"I think it would pay a great tribute to Dolly and what she’s done for the state and the country itself," Warner said.

Metropolitan Nashville Councilman Russ Bradford also supported the proposal, telling Axios Nashville that he had reached out to Airport Authority board members to pursue the name change.

However, according to him, the proposal would ultimately need approval from the board and the Federal Aviation Administration.